Shen Wei blinked, feigning innocence. "When Ah Yu doesn't want to drink his medicine, Ah Shu always says that!"
Li Yue Shu: "..."
Ah Yu had always been in good health. She had been here for so long, and he had only been sick once. Back then, Ah Yi hadn't even changed her address to call her 'mother' yet.
So, he had already recovered back then!
Li Yue Shu's face immediately darkened. "Get out!"
The short three words seemed to be bitten out with every syllable.
Shen Wei froze, his expression a little bewildered.
Was she angry?
Shen Wei started to say something, but Li Yue Shu turned her face away, clearly not wanting to speak to him any further.
Shen Wei was a bit confused and also at a loss.
Li Yue Shu wasn't unaccustomed to getting angry with him, but that was always in the context of playful teasing with children. This time, he could clearly feel that it was different.
Shen Wei opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say, so he could only turn and leave.
When he reached the door, he subconsciously looked back, a moment of panic flashing through his heart.
Mother Mo, holding the bowl of medicine, watched this scene and asked, a little confused, "Madam, did he do something to make you angry? This is the first time I've seen you so angry with him."
Li Yue Shu pursed her lips, still a little upset, but she didn't say much.
She glanced at the steaming hot medicine and unconsciously averted her head. "Aunt Mo, you can put the medicine down. I'll drink it later."
Mother Mo frowned. "I've cooled it with cold water, it's not hot."
Li Yue Shu knew it wasn't hot, but she really didn't want to drink it.
However, seeing Mother Mo holding the bowl, looking like she was about to stare her down until she drank it, Li Yue Shu was instantly rendered speechless.
She could only hesitantly reach out and take the bowl of medicine. Under Mother Mo's watchful gaze, she slowly brought the bowl to her lips.
Just then, she suddenly thought of something. "Oh right, Aunt Mo, has Sister Lanlan returned?"
Upon hearing that she was injured, everyone had rushed back from the medicinal hall. But she hadn't seen Liu Lanlan.
Mother Mo shook her head. "When they heard about your accident, Doctor Chen closed the medicinal hall directly. Everyone else ran back, so she naturally had to stay and take care of her husband. Doctor Chen and the others have already left, so she probably won't be back for a while."
Hearing this, Li Yue Shu quickly said, "Aunt Mo, please call Aunt Liu for me. I have something to tell her."
Seeing her serious expression, Mother Mo didn't suspect anything and turned to leave.
Watching her back disappear through the door, Li Yue Shu quickly got out of bed. Disregarding the injury to her arm, she hurried to push open the window and cautiously peeked outside.
Seeing that there was no one outside the window, she raised her hand to extend the bowl of medicine.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
A soft, milky voice suddenly rang out, startling Li Yue Shu so much that she almost dropped the bowl.
She turned back in a panic and saw Shen Zhi Yu standing at the door, tilting his head and looking at her curiously.
Li Yue Shu quickly retracted the bowl of medicine. "I... Mother just wanted to open the window for some fresh air. Why are you here, Ah Yu? Aren't you practicing calligraphy with your elder brother?"
Shen Zhi Yu didn't notice her awkwardness and happily ran over on his short legs. "Mother, this is for you."
Under Li Yue Shu's bewildered gaze, he took out a handful of malt candy from his small pocket. "Father said Mother is drinking very, very bitter medicine. Ah Yu has candy, so Mother won't find it bitter after eating candy!"
Looking at the child's sincere expression, Li Yue Shu felt a wave of warmth.
She squatted down, picked up a piece of malt candy, and put it in her mouth. "It's really sweet, thank you, Ah Yu!"
Having her head petted, Shen Zhi Yu's eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled.
He held out the candy in his hand further. "Then Mother, drink your medicine quickly. Eat another piece after you finish."
Hearing this, Li Yue Shu's expression became a little conflicted.
But looking at the child's expectant eyes, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Finally, Li Yue Shu used her tongue to push the candy in her mouth aside, gritted her teeth, and tilted her head back, drinking it down.
Damn, it was so bitter!
After finishing the bowl of medicine, the bitterness made Li Yue Shu's entire face contort.
The next moment, a sweet piece of malt candy appeared by her lips.
Li Yue Shu was stunned. She saw Shen Zhi Yu holding a piece of candy and putting it to her mouth.
Her heart felt a surge of warmth. She took the candy into her mouth. "Thank you, Ah Yu. After eating the candy, it's really not bitter anymore."
As if!
It was so bitter she wanted to throw up!
Shen Zhi Yu, unaware of her unspoken thoughts, said with surprise, "Father was right, if you eat candy after drinking medicine, there's no bitterness at all!"
Li Yue Shu's expression stiffened. "...When did your father tell you that?"
"Just now!" Shen Zhi Yu replied honestly. "Father gave his candy to Ah Yu, saying that if Mother had candy while taking medicine, it wouldn't be bitter. He also said that after Mother finishes her medicine, the remaining candy is all Ah Yu's!"
Upon hearing this, Li Yue Shu's earlier感动 (gǎndòng - moved/touched) instantly vanished. She felt like the taste in her mouth had become even more bitter. "So you're giving the candy to Mother because you want to eat the rest of it?"
Shen Zhi Yu was an honest child and nodded without hesitation, completely unaware that his mother's expression had already turned grim.
Li Yue Shu gritted her teeth and said, "Didn't I tell you not to eat so much candy!"
This little fellow liked sweets. Although he hadn't started losing his baby teeth yet, too much sugar could cause cavities and also lead to weight gain. She had already set limits on his daily intake of sweets.
Shen Zhi Yu finally sensed his mother's anger and quickly put the malt candy away. "But this is... this is what Father gave Ah Yu."
Li Yue Shu blinked.
She suddenly remembered that because Shen Wei liked sweets, she always prepared a packet of candy for him.
So, this packet of malt candy was something she had prepared for that guy?
Thinking of this, Li Yue Shu felt a lump in her throat. "Give me the candy!"
Shen Zhi Yu instinctively pulled the candy back, hiding it behind his back, and retreated a few steps with a wronged expression. "This is what Father gave Ah Yu. If Mother wants it, go ask Father."
Li Yue Shu stood up and stretched out her hand. "Take it out!"
Her cheeks were puffed out with two pieces of candy in her mouth, making her look like a little squirrel, completely lacking in imposing presence.
As expected, Shen Zhi Yu retreated further. "Ah Yu hasn't eaten candy for five days and three hours. This is from Father. If Mother wants it, go and ask Father!"
After saying this, the child turned and ran away.
"You stop right there!"
Li Yue Shu put down the bowl of medicine with a thud and immediately chased after him.
But when she came out, Shen Zhi Yu had already disappeared somewhere.
Li Yue Shu was so angry that she even forgot about the injury on her arm. "Shen! Zhi! Yu!"
This roar instantly drew everyone's attention.
This was the first time they had seen Li Yue Shu so angry, especially when she was facing Shen Zhi Yu, the child who pleased her the most.
For a moment, everyone was curious about what exactly the child had done to make Li Yue Shu so angry.
Only Shen Wei, lurking in a corner, guessed something, and a smile gradually spread across his eyes.
The next moment, his gaze met Li Yue Shu's, and the smile on his lips faltered.
Before he could react, Li Yue Shu suddenly glared at him and turned to go back into the room.